Firmware is also known as microcode.

it is a licensed internal code that fixes problems and enable

s new system features as they are introduced. The new features are supported by new firmware
level.

System Microcode or firmware initializes the system hardware and controls the boot process enabl
ing the system to boot up and operate correctly; it also provides the interface between the operat
ing system software and the hardware.
Adapter Microcode or firmware is the operating code of the adapter; it initializes the adapter when
power is applied and it controls many of the ongoing operations executed by the adapter.
Device Microcode or firmware provides these same functions for devices such as tape drives.

naming convention
firmware names are given as 01SF_XXX_YYY_ZZZ here,
XXX - is stream release level
YYY - is service pack level
ZZZ - is last disruptive SP level.

ex. 01SF235_185 represents release level is 235 and service pack is 185.
each stream release level supports new machine types or new features.

service processor contains two copies of firmware.which helps to manage and reduce the
frequency of downtime for maintenance.
1. temporary
2. permanent

server firmware fixes are installed on temporary side.copying the temporary firmware level to the
permanent side is known as committing or accepting the fix.

firmware updates can be of two types

1. disuptive
2. concurrent

A disruptive upgrade requires system to be shutdown and powered off prior to activating new
firmware level.
A concurrent upgrade can be made on running system. doesn't require downtime.

when is disruptive upgrade required:

1). when release level is different
ex-SF230 AND SF235

2). SP level (YYY) and last disruptive SP level (ZZZ) are equal
ex. SF235_180_180
3). SP level currently installed on system is lower than the last disruptive level(ZZZ)of the new
SP to be installed.
ex: installed on the system -SF235_180_160
to be installed - SF235_185_160

*** An installation is concurrent if SP level is higher than the SP level(ZZZ) of the new SP to be
installed.
ex currently installed SF235_180_160
to be installed - SF235_165_160

getting firmware updates

goto ibm fix central page.
from there select the following options

product group -----system p or power

product - firmware,sdmc,hmc
machine type and model . ---
you can see that after running "#prtconf" command in aix box.

you will get five options

1) all firmware components
2) system firmware
3) device firmware
4) SDMC codes
5) HMC firmware.

according to urs requirement select the appropiate option.

if you are going for device firmware. you should know which type of adapter is attached to youurs
system.
#lsdev -Cc adapter

select device firmware

you will get three options through which you can download the updates
1. machine model
2. feature code(to get feature code run #lscfg -vpl fcs0 the customer card id no. is urs feature code)
3. select by device

Here I am choosing the option by device type, four options will come
1. adapter
2. hard disk
3. media
4. others
I selected adapter here
after selecting you will get output like this,from this select the appropriate device update and
download

10/100/1000 Base-TX Ethernet PCI-X Adapter

10/100 Mbps Ethernet PCI Adapter II
10/100/1000 Base-TX Ethernet PCI-X Dual Port Adapter
........................................................

while going for system firmware update

product group -----system p or power
product - firmware,sdmc,hmc
machine type and model . ---
you can see that after running "#prtconf" command in aix box.
After that you will get next screen, from where select "you need guidance" this is best practise.
it will ask for your current installed lsmcode, you can find using :#lsmcode"

select the lsmcode from the drop-list

if you want to install using an hmc select the appropiate option
if your server is hmc managed select the appropiate option
then

if you want to upgrade select that, it will show some list select the recommended one and
download.

How to apply the system firmware updates, run diag command #diag
select Tasks and Service Aids
select Update and Manage Flash
Select Validate and Update System Firmware

If the fix file is located on your hard drive, perform the following steps:
i. Select File System.
ii. Enter the fully qualified path name of the file with the flash update image. The file will be copi
ed to the/var/update_flash_image directory.
iii.When finished, select Commit. The server firmware level that you selected will be installed on
the temporary side.
ADAPTER/SYSTEM FIRMWARE:
lsmcode -A displays microcode (same as firmware) level information for all supported devices
(Firmware: Software that has been written onto read-only memory (ROM))
lsmcode -c shows firmware level for system, processor

invscout:
it helps to show which firmware (microcode) should be updated:
1. download: http://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/server/firmware/catalog.mic
2. copy on the server to: /var/adm/invscout/microcode
3. run: invscout (it will collect data and creates: /var/adm/invscout/<hostname>.mup)
4.upload <hostanme>.mup to: http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/mds/fetch?
page=mdsUpload.html

SYSTEM FIRMWARE UPDATE:

(update is concurrent, upgrade is disruptive)

1. download from FLRT the files

2. copy to NIM server (NFS export) the files or put onto an FTP server (xml and rpm was in it for
me)
3. makes sure there are no deconfigured cpu/ram in the server, or broken hardware devices
4. On HMC -> LIC (Licensed Internal Code) Maintenance -> LIC Updates -> Channge LIC for
the current release
(if you want to do an upgrade (not update) choose: Upgrade Licensed Internal Code)
5. Choose the machine -> Channge LIC (Licensed Internal Code) wizard
6. FTP site:
FTP site:10.20.10.10
User ID: root
Passw: <root pw>
Change Directory: set to the uploaded dir

7. follow the wizard (next, next..), about after 20-30 minutes will be done

"The repository does not contain any applicable upgrade updates HSCF0050" or ..."The selected
repository does not contain any new updates."
It can happen if ftp user was not created by official AIX script: /usr/samples/tcpip/anon.ftp
Create ftp user with this and try again.

ADAPTER FIRMWARE LEVEL:

For FC adapter:
root@aix1: /root # lscfg -vpl fcs0
fcs0 P2-I2 FC Adapter
Part Number.................09P5079
EC Level....................A
 Serial Number...............1C2120A894
Manufacturer................001C
Customer Card ID Number.....2765 <--it shows the feature code (could be like this: Feature
Code/Marketing ID...5704)
FRU Number..................09P5080 <--identifies the adapter
Network Address.............10000000C92BC1EF
ROS Level and ID............02C039D0
Device Specific.(Z0)........2002606D
...
Device Specific.(Z9)........CS3.93A0 --this is the same as ZB
Device Specific.(ZA)........C1D3.93A0
Device Specific.(ZB)........C2D3.93A0 <--to verify the firmware level ignore the first 3
characters in the ZB field (3.93A0)
Device Specific.(ZC)........00000000
Hardware Location Code......P2-I2

For Network adapter:

lscfg -vpl entX --> FRU line

ROM Level.(alterable).......GOL021 <--it is showing the firmware level

For Internal Disks:

lscfg -vpl hdiskX

Manufacturer................IBM
Machine Type and Model......HUS153014VLS300

Firmware (Microcode) update should be started from FLRT (Fix Level Recommendatio Tool).
After selecting the system, it will be possible to choose devices to do an update, and read
description, how to do it.
Check with Google the "FRU Number" to get the FC Code (this is needed to get the correct files
on FLRT)

Basic steps for firmware upgrade:

0. check if /etc/microcode dir exists
1. download from FLRT to a temp dir the needed rpm package.
2. make the rpm package available to the system:
cd to the copied temp dir
rpm -ihv --ignoreos --force SAS15K300-A428-AIX.rpm
3. check:
rpm -qa
cd /etc/microcode --> ls -l will show the new microcede
 compare filesize within the document
compare checksum within document: sum <filename> (sum /usr/lib/microcode/df1000fd-
0002.271304)

4. diag -d fcs0 -T download <--it will install (download) the microcode

Description about: "M", "L", "C", "P" when choosing the microcode:
"M" is the most recent level of microcode found on the source.
It is later than the level of microcode currently installed on the adapter.
"L" identifies levels of microcode that are later than the level of microcode currently installed
on the adapter.
Multiple later images are listed in descending order.
"C" identifies the level of microcode currently installed on the adapter.
"P" identifies levels of microcode that are previous to the level of microcode currently installed
on the adapter.
Multiple previous images are listed in the descending order.

5. lsmcode -A <--for checking

To Back level the firmware

diag -d fcsX -T "download -f -l previous"